Pot bound Acer Dissectum 'Viridis'

Is it better to move my lovely Acer to a suitably prepared planting hole now, or wait until the autumn? It's looking great at the moment, but I feel it will do better in the ground. I'm not going anywhere on holiday so am aable to keep on top of watering and feeding. I just want to give it a bit of 'legroom'.

Figrat's right - you can plant a pot-grown specimen at any time. If yours is potbound, plant it out as soon as you can, but remember to water it as though it were still in a pot over summer, because the roots need time to spread enough to support the plant.

Be careful where you put it. Acers are VERY fussy and can cess to thrive even if there moved 12 inches. I must admit I rarely repot them, my biggest specimen has been in it pot for about 6 years - the pot is 14inches high by 20inches wide.  When I find a spot that they like, I don't move them.

Oh, and am sure I read somewhere that the best time you should move an acer is in autumn.

thanks all. I have several of varying sizes, which are (nearly) all in the ground now. It's just, with this being the biggest, and my first one, I want to give it the best chance. It has the most glorious colours in autumn...and the blue tits & goldfinches love it. My 2 cats both pretend to be stuck up it as well, just so I can 'rescue' them...bit silly really as the bigger cat is so big all she has to do is drop her back legs and she's on the top of the pot! I might wait til the autumn, as the soil will still be warm then to let the roots start finding their way out before winter 'shutdown'.